Crankworx – Meet two of the local contenders

August 8, 2014

Gibbons Life is a proud sponsor of Crankworx. We love to see the legends, rising stars, industry innovators and the next generation of mountain bike riders gathering in Whistler for this 10-day wheel fueled spectacle.

We had the honor of touching base with two local riders before they start the festivities, and check out what they’re up to as Crankworx rolls into town…

Meet Tom Oye

Tom Oye only started riding Whistler’s trails this summer but he’s been hitting them hard. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Tom was a weekend warrior on the bike front but since moving to Whistler he’s stepped it up a notch. Working at Garfinkel’s in the evenings has meant that he and his Norco Aurum have had the time to study the trails.

I love the spread of the courses Whistler has. You’ve got flowing jump courses, easy trails you could take your grandma on, and then rocky technical ones even the pros fear. I’m entering for the experience, the chance to tackle the same trails as some of the best riders in the world.

Tom has bravely signed up for three downhill events and is hoping some of his training will come into play as being able to learn the course is a big advantage.

Garbanzo DH – August 12

A vertical marathon, the Garbanzo DH is a gruel-fest, a magnet for masochists, a 3400 foot top-to-bottom toll-taking test of mountain biking supremacy. The unrelenting 7 kilometre descent requires sustained intensity as riders match stamina with smoothness and strategy to stay on their game for one long lonely ride through 3 bioclimatic zones and shifting conditions, with only pain and the mountain’s mood swings to accompany them. A killer link-up, the Garbanzo DH course snakes through some of the most aggressive terrain the Whistler Mountain Bike Park has, making it a leg-busting, stand-up-and-pedal tour de force.

Fox Air DH – August 13

Pushing, pulsing, and relentlessly driving – for over a decade, the Fox Air Downhill has been the primordial heart of Crankworx. Down the tacky flume of Whistler’s most iconic trail, every turn’s a berm, every jump’s a tabletop and every moment is a battle of mind over matter. 400 racers, one by one, sprint down the mountain, scrubbing bumps and airing 1200 vertical feet of non-stop bank and boost.

Canadian Open DH – August 17

Straight down, no mercy – the Canadian Open DH course is a ripper, a one-run takedown of Whistler’s rooty single-track, steep rock drops and big air features. This technical test-piece calls for blazing guns and laser focus from those who dare to drop in.

We will be cheering Tom on when he rides into Skiers Plaza at the base of Whistler after each comp – don’t worry Tom we’ll have some beers ready for you!

Meet Jesse Melamed

Jesse Melamed stunned everyone last year when he took the 6th spot at the Enduro event and this time he might be hoping to edge up a few spots.

This young 22-year old is competing on Sunday, Aug 10 in the SRAM Canadian Open Enduro where riders battle five physically and technically challenging stages, described as some of the most physically demanding of the year – the ultimate test for the true Enduro rider.

While a great vibe and wicked trails provide riders with a master class in what Enduro’s all about, at the end of the day only one speed will do to take the big win: full-on. And with the biggest cash prize purse of any Enduro event in the world, these riders come to win.

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